Author: Anil Kumar and Mehul G. Thakkar
Agripreneurship, the intersection of agriculture and entrepreneurship, is increasingly recognized as a vital driver of economic growth, rural development, and food security. This study delves into the concept of agripreneurship, examining its potential benefits and the challenges it faces, particularly for students. By integrating innovative business practices with agricultural activities, agripreneurs can enhance productivity, introduce sustainable farming techniques, and create value-added products. However, numerous obstacles impede students from pursuing agripreneurship. This empirical research paper explores these constraints as perceived by postgraduate students from State Agricultural Universities of Gujarat. Utilizing a descriptive cross-sectional research design, a structured questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 300 postgraduate students. The survey results reveal that the primary constraint is fear of failure, along with several other significant barriers. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to support aspiring agripreneurs and foster a more conducive environment for their entrepreneurial endeavors
Agripreneurship, Agripreneurs, Economic Growth, Rural Development, Food Security, Constraints
The foremost constraint inhibiting student entrepreneurship is the 'fear of failure in business,' which indicates a significant psychological barrier. Students also encounter challenges arising from a 'poor family background,' 'complex government procedures for business setup,' 'lack of financial backup,' and 'family/societal pressure for stability and security.' Additionally, other hurdles that further impede entrepreneurial pursuits include the 'lack of awareness among youth,' the 'scarcity of targeted training programs,' and 'negative experiences from others.' The 'industry-academia gap,' the 'inability to handle business-related stress,' 'apathy towards entrepreneurship,' and the 'absence of conducive academic environments' further compound these difficulties. Together, these constraints create a challenging environment for aspiring student entrepreneurs, making it difficult for them to embark on and sustain entrepreneurial ventures
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Anil Kumar and Mehul G. Thakkar (2024). Constrains for Agripreneurship as perceived by the Post Graduate Students of State Agricultural Universities of Gujarat. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(8): 318-323